HOUSTON — A man accused of holding a woman against her will for nearly five years in a garage said on Monday he is innocent.
Lee Carter, 52, was charged with aggravated kidnapping in April 2023 and was arrested Thursday. He was out of jail after posting a $100,000 bond. A judge on Monday placed Carter on house arrest and ordered him to wear an ankle monitor as conditions of his bond.
Investigators said a woman told police she was pregnant and panhandling years ago when Carter gave her a dollar and then offered her a ride. She told police she took him up on the offer thinking he would help. Instead, he took her to his home on Perry Street and held her captive in his garage, according to court records.
She said she was held there, threatened, only fed chips and snacks, forced to take drugs, and was sexually assaulted.
According to court documents, there were times that Carter would let the woman use his laptop. She said she used a texting app to communicate to police that she was being held against her will. Court documents said that police and firefighters were dispatched to the home at least once and they took the woman to the hospital, but Carter picked her up and took her back to the garage.
In April 2023 she got in contact with police again and charges were filed against Carter.
Police haven’t said what happened to the woman's child or if there was a child. They said they are still trying to piece things together.
“I haven't had the opportunity to really dig as much as I'd like,” said HPD Commander Michael Collins. “So that's something that that will leave for the investigation as well.”
Carter denies any of it happened.
"This is my son's mother. This is not a stranger," Carter said. "I’m innocent.”
He said he’s only owned the home where the woman said she was held for a short time and not as long as the woman said she was held captive.
"I've only owned the house and lived in it for 13 months,” he said.
A few hours after being in court Carter posted to social media, "do the math" and "all allegations are false" as he promoted his latest album.
Carter claims to be a Houston rapper on social media and is known by his stage name, Viper.
There are still a lot of answered questions with the case, like if the victim ever gave birth, and if so, what happened to the baby, and why it took so long for Carter to be arrested.
The case is being handled by the Harris County District Attorney's Human Trafficking Division.
Prosecutors said it's possible more charges could be added as they continue to investigate.